Turns out, each and every cashew nut grows attached to a "false fruit," the red, apple-esque object in the photo above. Technically, the cashew nut itself is the tree's fruit, so the fleshy cashew "apple" is merely a byproduct. The "false fruit" is edible, but highly perishable.

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A bowl of things we never knew existed.

After the cashew nuts are detached, they are dried in the sun in their shells. And if you've ever wondered why you can't buy in-shell cashews, the reason lies in the shell itself. Cashew shells contain anacardic acid, which can cause allergies and irritation similar to poison ivy. Once the nuts are removed from their shells, they are steamed or roasted to remove any poisonous residue. After that, they're finally ready to enjoy.

So next time you reach for a handful of cashews, take a moment to remember the weirdly wonderful way they came to be.